AND THE WINNER IS . . ....

AND THE WINNER IS . . . : One of the fiercest competitions among pop managers in recent years has ended with red-hot Toni Braxton tabbing the team of Arnold Stiefel and Randy Phillips to work with her. She joins a roster there that also includes Rod Stewart, Morrissey and Patty Smyth.

Braxton’s 1993 debut album, “Toni Braxton,” has sold more than 5 million copies and earned three Grammys, including best new artist. Other managers who had reportedly been in the running included Sandy Gallin and Jim Morey (Michael Jackson’s managers), Howard Kaufman (Janet Jackson) and Allen Kovac (Meat Loaf, Richard Marx).

“The reason she chose Arnold and Randy was after months of consideration she felt that’s where she would get the most personal attention and full focus,” says Bert Padell, the singer’s business manager.

The team is now making plans for Braxton to begin work on her second album in time for release next summer, with a tour to follow. Among the plans on the Stiefel-Phillips drawing board for Braxton: movies and television.